Category: Speaking to the Soul

Today Malachi picks up a theme that is present in Haggai and several other prophets. Our worship of God comes first, they tell us. Trust God and honor God appropriately as your primary obligation, and all other things will fit into place…

When our ancestors were illegal immigrants, the “nations” welcomed us and shared life-giving food with us. Native and immigrant sat down together; “pagan” and Christian broke bread in thanksgiving and peace.

Today’s readings are like one of those chilly, overcast days when it looks like it will be cloudy all day and the rain threatens to come at any moment. I know that above the clouds the sun shines with steadfastness. I know that there will be another day with light and warmth. But on those gray days that seep into the bones, you have to set your jaw and move ahead with determination, doing what needs to be done.

When I was growing up, faith was mostly about belief — “faith” was to assent to a particular content with your belief. That is not what faith is in any of these stories, or in most of the Bible.

An impatient farmer is an oxymoron. Farmers plant and wait. They will remove weeds and augment with fertilizer. But ultimately they must wait for the mystery of growth. Growth happens.